Jules Bailey

Commissioner, District 1

Multnomah County Commissioner Jules Bailey, a Portland native, has spent his career tackling issues in our community. In 2014 he was elected to represent District 1, which includes areas west of the Willamette River and the inner eastside south of Interstate 84.

Jules believes Multnomah County can be a place where everyone can thrive, and sees County programs as a fundamental part of creating a healthy, equitable local economy.

As a County Commissioner, Jules has been an advocate for our most vulnerable residents, working on housing and homelessness, crisis mental health services, and public safety reform. A champion for equity, Jules has emphasized the need to address the radical disparities and racial injustice disproportionately faced by people of color, as well as endemic gender discrimination, the lack of family-friendly services, and the persistent wage gap. He has also continued his work on LGBTQ equality, especially on health care equity for the transgender community.

An alumnus of Lincoln High School and Lewis and Clark College, Jules did his graduate work at Princeton University, earning dual master’s degrees in public policy and economics, and urban and regional planning. He also holds graduate-level certification in science, technology, and environmental policy.

Jules believes in the adage, “Think globally, act locally.” In his time as an economist, consultant, and in other roles, Jules has worked across the United States and in six countries on five continents on issues such as economic development, education, sustainability, and microfinance.

After working as an economist in Portland, Jules was elected to three terms as a State Representative from Oregon House District 42. In the legislature, Jules chaired the Joint Committee on Tax Credits, as well as the House Committee on Energy and Environment. He also served as vice-chair of the House Revenue Committee and the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources, and served on House Transportation and Economic Development committees.

Among his accomplishments, Jules passed the first-ever bill to sunset all tax credits in Oregon and bring them up for review. He passed legislation with bipartisan support to help thousands of homeowners upgrade their homes for comfort and energy efficiency, creating hundreds of new family wage jobs in our state. He also passed the High Performance Schools bill, which helped Oregon schools across the state modernize their buildings and reduce costs.

Jules has been a leader on human service issues as well. He worked with the Raphael House of Portland to pass the Healthy Teen Relationship Act to help break the cycle of domestic violence before it starts. In 2013, Jules worked with AARP to help Oregonians build retirement savings. He also passed legislation to bring down the cost of prescription drugs, and increase access to medications for people in need.

As a Multnomah County commissioner, Jules will continue fighting for programs that cut costs and save the county money while protecting our most vulnerable citizens. He will make sure county programs have clear, measurable goals, and make sure they are met. And Jules will build on his work for solutions to poverty, homelessness, and mental illness, and for healthy communities, betters schools, and safer streets.